Dayhoff Westminster Soundtrack: Maryland Senate GOP Slate

Showing posts with label Maryland Senate GOP Slate. Show all posts

Friday, March 16, 2012

The Taxcollector's Calling...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwBbZOaPuQY&feature=youtu.be

Uploaded by MDSenateGOP1 on Mar 16, 2012

St. Patricks Day in Maryland

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Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/ or http://kevindayhoffart.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/ or http://www.westgov.net/ = www.kevindayhoff.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net Explore Carroll: www.explorecarroll.com The Tentacle: www.thetentacle.com

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Md Senate GOP Offers Amendments To Stop Tax And Fee Increases

Annapolis - GOP Senators tried to fix the Maryland budget today by keeping spending at last year's level; creating an incentive for state agencies to fix their bad audits; and rejecting any special fund transfers to the general funds. All three amendments were rejected.

Senator Pipkin called for the Senate to adopt a "live within your means" budget instead of the current proposal that grows the budget by $1.1 billion and depends on new taxes and fees.

Senator Reilly stated from the Senate Floor, "Maryland's budget does not make fiscal sense and is irresponsible."
In the last audit cycle, 38 state agencies had audits with three or more repeat bad findings:
·         DHMH paid $426,000 in Medicaid benefits to dead people;

·         SHA improperly used $11.3 million without BPW approval;

·         MDE mismanaged the Bay Restoration Fund (Flush Tax) -a $300,000 wastewater treatment plant was upgraded with money earmarked for septic systems; MDE also gave almost $60,000 worth of septic system grants on land without any structures.

·         MTA spent hundreds of millions of dollars without verifying bills and had little control over payroll.

Senator Pipkin offered an amendment that would decrease funding in these agencies until the agencies fix the egregious audits.

Senator Reilly proposed stopping all special fund transfers to the general fund to shore up the budget. Each year, these funds, like the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF), the Waterway Improvement Fund, and many others are raided. Consequently taxes and fees are raised to pay the deficit. This year, DNR is trying to raise the boating fees by 400% to fund the depleted Waterway Improvement Fund that was raided by the tune of $48 million since 2002.

The Senators will be offering more amendments as the Senate Floor votes on the three other budget bills this afternoon.

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Saturday, March 19, 2011

Maryland Senate Republican Slate: Rascovar & Lee

Rascovar & Lee

Dear Kevin,

Two astute observers of the Annapolis scene are Barry Rascovar and Blair Lee. They provide an "insider's baseball" perspective of the State House through their weekly columns in the Gazette newspapers.

The Gazette of Politics and Business is a Friday edition that is also available online (click here). This edition contains perceptive articles by the Gazette's team of State House reporters as well as the opinion columns of Rascovar and Lee.

This week's edition is especially insightful. Rascovar questions why legislators are not listening to their own fiscal advisors. The Board of Revenue Estimates last week predicted a slower-than-expected economic recovery, but the Democrat leadership continues to increase the budget as if full recovery will happen in the next quarter:

"Why aren't O'Malley and lawmakers paying attention? Based on the revenue board's bleak analysis, they should be reining in Maryland's out-of-control spending and preparing for a slower than expected recovery. Instead, delegates and the governor are pandering to the usual special interests. The revenue board's cautions preceded the alarming events in Japan, the world's third-largest economy. That nation's triple devastation will ripple economically through Maryland and the country. It also is now clear that Maryland's strong job growth over the past year - loudly touted by O'Malley - was a mirage. . . This is not a time to crank out another budget that protects vested interests and avoids the tough decisions. Yet once again, it looks like that proverbial can is about to get kicked down the road." (To read the full opinion column, click here)

Lee offers an analysis of the unusual alliance that formed to defeat the assumed passage of the gay marriage bill in the House of Delegates. He highlights the role of the African-American churches in persuading legislators to stand fast against the bill:

"Insiders say that P.G. County's black churches turned seven delegates against the same-sex bill, enough to kill it. Many blacks also take offense to the gay lobby's pitch that homosexual marriage and biracial marriage are similar civil rights issues. Biracial marriage is much different from same-sex marriage, say blacks; no religion teaches that biracial marriage is a sin against God. This clash between the gay lobby and black churches is a white liberal's nightmare. Don't the black churches understand that their job is to endorse Democratic candidates, not religion?" (To read the full opinion column, click here)

During the 90-day session, we recommend that you set your "flipboard" or "google reader" to the Gazette of Politics and Business to stay current on what is happening behind the scenes in Annapolis. You will not be disappointed!

Labels: Journalists Lee Blair,Journalists Rascovar-Barry, Maryland Senate GOP Slate
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Friday, January 28, 2011

Maryland Senate Salutes Senator J.B. Jennings

Maryland Senate Salutes Senator J.B. Jennings

Dear Kevin,

On Thursday, the Maryland Senate paid tribute to its members who have served in the military. Senators also conducted a ceremony to remember Maryland's Fallen Heroes from 2010.

At the end of the ceremony, a warm and lengthy standing ovation was given to Senator J.B. Jennings who currently serves in the Maryland Air National Guard and was recently called up for a training mission.

"As a caucus, we're proud and thankful that Sen. Jennings has chosen to help defend our country," said Senate Republican Leader Nancy Jacobs, R-Harford-Cecil. "It may be inconvenient timing, but just like thousands of others he has answered the call to protect our nation during our fight in the global war on terror."

As an airman first class, Sen. Jennings has been called to duty for a federal training mission at Robbins Air Force Base in Georgia. As a master load specialist, he will be trained on the new C27 Spartan cargo plane. This deployment will begin on Jan. 30 and conclude on April 30.

"We will miss the calm and thoughtful approach of Sen. Jennings on the Senate Floor. We appreciate and commend our fellow senator's pledge to serve our country," commented Senate Minority Whip EJ Pipkin, R-Upper Shore.

As the 2011 session progresses, Sen. Jennings is expected to adjust his training schedule to return to the State House for key votes.

The Senate Republican Caucus offers its sincerest best wishes to J.B. for a safe and successful deployment.

Serving His Country

Senator J.B. Jennings has been called up in his role as airman first class with the Maryland Air National Guard for a training mission prior to deployment next year.

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Monday, August 09, 2010

MD Senate Republican Slate: Maryland Fails to Provide Timely Ballots to Our Troops

The Senate Republican Caucus has joined with the House Republican Caucus in opposition to the waiver requested by the Maryland State Board of Elections so that ballots do not have to be sent to military and civilian personnel serving overseas in compliance with federal election laws. The full statement follows:

(Annapolis, MD) Today, The Joint Republican Caucus of the Maryland General Assembly released the following statement in response to the Maryland Board of Elections' request for a waiver of the federal Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act.

"This federal law exists to ensure that those who are fighting to defend our democracy, have the opportunity to participate in it" said House Minority Leader Anthony O'Donnell. "This waiver request is just one more slap in the face to the Maryland men and women who are serving our country, and a reminder that the O'Malley administration and Democrat leaders in the legislature consistently disregard the importance of, and sacrifices made, by those honorable citizens."

"I am dismayed that the Maryland government can't provide better support for our troops. We teach our children the importance of democracy and participating in elections. However, through their inaction, the liberal Democrat monopoly in Annapolis has ignored the very people who risk their lives so that we can continue to have these freedoms." said Senate Minority Leader Allan Kittleman.

The MOVE Act was signed into law by President Obama last October, and requires that states ensure that ballots are sent to military voters serving overseas at least 45 days before the election, due to the unavoidable delays associated with delivery into sometimes dangerous areas.

"If compliance is impossible, according to the Board of Elections, why wasn't the legislature approached about a solution" continued Delegate O'Donnell. "Why wasn't this brought up as an issue until now? Our Maryland citizens serving overseas deserve more consideration than appears to have been given to this issue. The Democratic leaders previously gutted legislation intended to give a well-deserved benefit to military retirees, and attract and retain these highly skilled personnel who are essential to economic growth and prosperity. They then enacted legislation hindering the ability of our armed services to recruit a new generation of well-trained, admirable citizens giving back to their communities through military service. It is disgraceful, but not surprising that this waiver request is but one more example of a lack of consideration and respect for active duty military and veterans by the O'Malley administration and Democrat leaders in the legislature in Maryland."

In 2005, the Ehrlich administration introduced legislation that would exempt 100% of military retirement income from state income taxes if the retiree had served 20 years of active duty. The legislation was first amended in committee to cut the exemption in half and eliminate the exemption for retired officers, and was then killed. Retired military personnel households spent over $2.5 billion on goods and services in Maryland when this legislation was introduced, and are an integral part of Maryland's economy as they transition their extensive training and skill sets into the private sector.

"Unfortunately, the Democrat leadership has not learned what our neighboring states have known for quite some time, exempting 100% of military retirement income from state income taxes is a tremendous economic stimulus tool. Therefore, in addition to being the right thing to do for those who have sacrificed for all of us, giving a greater tax break to veterans would help to energize our economy and create new jobs in Maryland" continued Senator Kittleman.

In the 2010 legislative session, legislation was introduced by the chairman of the Ways and Means committee that prohibits schools from releasing information regarding student scores on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test to military recruiters. This test is developed and maintained by the Department of Defense to measure vocational aptitude of potential enlistees.

"These three issues show a continuing pattern in Maryland where the liberal Democrat leadership displays anti-military philosophy in state policy" concluded Senator Kittleman.

To see prior posts about the 2010 Legislative Session of the Maryland General Assembly, visit our website atwww.mdsenategop.com or sign up to be our fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Maryland-Senate-GOP-Slate/289658452326?ref=ts

LABELS: ELECTIONS 2010, ELECTIONS 2010 MARYLAND, ELECTIONS AND VOTING,MARYLAND SENATE GOP SLATE, MILITARY

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Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Maryland Senate GOP Slate: Curing the Structural Deficit - Budget Hearings in Annapolis

Senate GOP Slate: Curing the Structural Deficit - Budget Hearings in Annapolis

http://www.facebook.com/notes/maryland-senate-gop-slate/curing-the-structural-deficit-budget-hearings-in-annapolis/375316535139

Thursday, March 4, 2010 at 6:58am Maryland Senate GOP Slate's Notes

After just ten months in office, Governor Martin O’Malley orchestrated the largest tax increase in Maryland history. His Executive Order issued in October 2007 to convene the General Assembly of Maryland into a special session stated the following goal: “for the purpose of passing legislation to address Maryland’s structural deficit.” The deficit was estimated to reach $1.7 billion by FY09.

Misguidedly, O’Malley also increased state spending during the special session and his lofty plan to tax-and-spend out of future deficits failed. His current budget contains out-year structural deficits in excess of the one he attempted to cure three years ago: $1.75 billion in FY12; $2.14 billion in FY13 and $2.13 billion in FY14.

The Brinkley-Pipkin budget reduction act (Senate Bill 1004) had a hearing before the Senate Budget and Tax Committee today. By taking significant steps to further reduce spending in this year’s budget process, the Brinkley-Pipkin plan buys additional time to constrain spending to the existing available revenues without the need to raise taxes.

A key feature of the plan is the elimination of built-in statutory increases in state programs. This feature and an additional $75 million in spending constraint over the next three years would allow current revenues to “catch-up” with spending, thereby bringing ongoing spending and revenues into balance.

Many lobbyists and county officials testified today against additional cuts to state spending. Representatives of unions also opposed the Brinkley-Pipkin plan of additional cutbacks including the removal prevailing wage from state projects. The majority of citizens and taxpayers who testified supported all efforts to cut back government overspending.

If adopted, the Brinkley-Pipkin plan would have fund balances instead of deficits over the next four years as shown by the chart below (O’Malley out-year deficits are shown in red; Brinkley-Pipkin fund reserves with balanced budgets are shown in green).

Comparison of the O'Malley budget structural deficits (shown in red) with the fund balances of the Brinkley-Pipkin budget reduction act (shown in green).

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Maryland Senate GOP Slate: O’Malley Created $363 Million Budget Gap Thru High Income Surtax

http://www.facebook.com/notes/maryland-senate-gop-slate/omalley-created-363-million-budget-gap-thru-high-income-surtax/397652710139

Maryland Senate GOP Slate: O’Malley Created $363 Million Budget Gap Thru High Income Surtax

Saturday, March 13, 2010 at 11:18am Maryland Senate GOP Slate's Notes

Final tax data from 2008 now proves what many predicted but had been strenuously denied by Democrats in Annapolis: Maryland’s high income earners are voting with their feet.

In calling a special session for the purpose of passing an historic tax increase less than a year after his election, Governor Martin O’Malley changed Maryland’s personal income tax from a flat rate to a graduated system with a surcharge on high income earners. During this 2007 special session, Republican Senators opposed these tax increases and forewarned that the net result would be revenue losses as this mobile segment of the population relocated their primary residences.

Wall Street Journal editorial writers agreed in a May 2009 opinion entitled “Soak the Rich – Lose the Rich” that described how the misguided budget policy of the O’Malley Administration would lead to outward migration of the very segment of the population that a state wants to keep for a healthy, progressive economy. In response, Democrats in Annapolis produced their own analysis attributing the loss of high income tax filers to the normal slack-off of annual returns.

Now the late filers have completed their returns and final numbers have been tallied. Instead of $106 million of new revenues predicted by O’Malley’s budget office, Maryland saw a decline of $257 million – for a total gap of $363 million. This is just part of the problem created by O’Malley that results in continuing out-year deficits over $2 billion each year.

In a follow-up editorial printed this week, the WSJ editors conclude: “We reported in May that after passing a millionaire surtax nearly one-third of Maryland's millionaires had gone missing, thus contributing to a decline in state revenues. The politicians in Annapolis had said they'd collect $106 million by raising its income tax rate on millionaire households to 6.25% from 4.75%. In cities like Baltimore and Bethesda, which apply add-on income taxes, the top tax rate with the surcharge now reaches as high as 9.3%—fifth highest in the nation. Liberals said this was based on incomplete data and that rich Marylanders hadn't fled the state. Well, the state comptroller's office now has the final tax return data for 2008, the first year that the higher tax rates applied. The number of millionaire tax returns fell sharply to 5,529 from 7,898 in 2007, a 30% tumble. The taxes paid by rich filers fell by 22%, and instead of their payments increasing by $106 million, they fell by some $257 million.”

To see the recent WSJ Online editorial “Maryland’s Mobile Millionaires,” visit: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703976804575114241782001262.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_AboveLEFTTop

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Saturday, March 13, 2010

Maryland Senate GOP Slate: UMD Regents Violate Campaign Fundraising Law

Maryland Senate GOP Slate: UMD Regents Violate Campaign Fundraising Law

March 12, 2010

Quick Links: MD Senate GOP MD General Assembly Maryland Senate GOP Fan Page on Facebook To see prior posts about the 2010 Legislative Session of the Maryland General Assembly, visit our website at www.mdsenategop.com or become our fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Maryland-Senate-GOP-Slate/289658452326?ref=ts

What’s good for the goose should be good for the gander - except when the issue is Democrat politics in Maryland.

When Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., was Governor, Democrats in Annapolis created an “ethical smear” on the Administration because members of the Board of Regents of the University of Maryland System were also involved in political activities during their private lives. Nothing illegal was done - but with much uproar and election-year grandstanding, the Democrat legislators passed a bill prohibiting regents from engaging in political fundraising.

Entering the 2010 legislative session, however, the University of Maryland System was facing the potential for severe cuts as the O’Malley Administration was formulating its higher education budget. Conveniently, two members of the Board of Regents served as hosts for a major fundraiser sponsored by the O’Malley/Brown campaign.

Regent Chairman Clifford M. Kendall and Assistant Treasurer Barry P. Gossett are the key names on the list of a 19-person host committee printed in the invitation for the November 3, 2009, fundraiser. They solicit contributions of $1000 per individual and $4000 per sponsor for the O’Malley/Brown campaign. The flyer is a direct violation of the law passed by the Democrats in 2006.

Delegate Frank S. Turner (D-Howard) told the Washington Post in 2006: “We need to clean up this board, and dealing with fundraising is a piece of that . . . These people should be out fundraising for need-based scholarships, for athletic scholarships.” (Washington Post, “Momentum Builds for Regents Bill,” March 23, 2006)

Harsh criticism was also delivered by Douglas M. Duncan, Montgomery County Executive at the time, in the Washington Post article. He asked whether a potential contributor would know in what capacity a regent was acting: “We expect our regents to be focused on higher education, not hitting people up for political money.”

Today, not only are the regents confusing potential contributors about what “hat” they are wearing when fundraising, but so is the Chief of Staff of the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs. As reported at MarylandReporter.com, Gerard “Jerry” Boden was transferred from Lt. Governor Anthony Brown’s staff to a high-paying position created for him at Veterans Affairs.

However, he also serves as the treasurer of Brown’s official campaign finance account. Won’t contributors be confused by which role Boden is representing when fundraising? Shouldn’t Boden be focused on the issues of Maryland’s veterans and “not hitting people up for political money”?

Just another example of how, in Maryland, the Democrats play by a different set of rules for ethical standards in state government.

20100312 UMD Regents Violate Campaign Fundraising Law